Potential head injury not likely the cause of Billy Mays' death

Tools

Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

TAMPA (NBC NEWS) - Even if you didn't know the name Billy Mays, chances are you saw him every day.

He was the guy who hawked everything from OxiClean to insurance.

His products sold billions.

Mays died at his Florida home on Sunday and on Monday we know more about what happened.

"The autopsy did reveal hypertensive and arteriosclerotic heart disease," said chief medical examiner Dr. Vernard Adams.

When Mays' wife found him Sunday morning in their Tampa home, he was unresponsive.

One day before his death, Mays was on a flight that made a hard landing, leading to speculation that he may have suffered head trauma.

He told a local TV station that he was hit when items fell from the overhead compartment and even joked, quote, I got a hard head.

But Monday’s autopsy showed no sign of any external or internal head trauma.

And while Mays was taking pain killers for hip pain and was due to have a hip replacement on Monday the number of pills in his possession was consistent with proper use.

Toxicology tests will take another 6 to 8 weeks, but authorities say there was no sign of any abuse only heart disease, now suspected as the cause of death.

For the man seen on TV as much as almost anyone, some 400 times per week.

It now appears Billy Mays death may have been as straightforward as his sales pitches but at age 50 was way too soon.

Mays leaves behind a wife and two children.

A final cause of death won't be ruled on until those toxicology tests come back.

 


NBC Augusta 26 News brings you straight to the point news, weather, and sports from Augusta and the CSRA. Meet our NBC Augusta 26 News staff!

View comments

The following comments do not necessarily represent the views of NBC Augusta 26| news, weather, sports, community, entertainment, shopping for Augusta, Georgia. Users have agreed to these terms and in doing so accept full responsibility for their comments. Moderation is limited.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

WAGT and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. Comments are posted on site immediately and without station moderation. If you feel a comment is inappropriate you may flag it for review. For guidelines on flagging comments see our Terms & Conditions. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

I have read and agree to the terms

Hide comments

More Good Stuff

WAGT Weather

Click here for 7 Day Forecast
Icon
Current Temp 49.0 °F
Fair
More Weather

WAGT Weather

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

On Demand

NBC Augusta 26 RSS FeedsNBC Augusta 26 Twitter Feed NBC Augusta 26 Facebook Page NBC Full Shows Online

Viewer Poll

Who do you want to win the World Series?

  • New York Yankees
  • Philadelphia Phillies
  • I don't care